In this Feb. 12, 2016, photo, French singer Johnny Hallyday receives the best chanson album award during the 31st Victoires de la Musique ceremony, in Paris. (AP Photo/Jacques Brinon, File)In this Feb. 12, 2016, photo, French singer Johnny Hallyday receives the best chanson album award during the 31st Victoires de la Musique ceremony, in Paris. (AP Photo/Jacques Brinon, File)

(Newser)
–
Johnny Hallyday, France's biggest rock star for more than half a century and an icon who packed sports stadiums with his pumping pelvis and high-voltage tunes, has died. He was 74. President Emmanuel Macron announced his death in a statement early Wednesday, saying "he brought a part of America into our national pantheon," per the AP. Hallyday had had lung cancer and repeated health scares in recent years that dominated national news, yet he continued performing as recently as this summer. Hallyday fashioned his glitzy stage aura from Elvis Presley, drew musical inspiration from Chuck Berry and Buddy Holly, performed with Jimi Hendrix, and made an album in country music's capital, Nashville, Tenn.

Hallyday was born in Paris on June 15, 1943, during the dark days of World War II, with a less glamorous name: Jean-Philippe Smet. The young Smet followed his father's sisters to London, where he met American singer Lee Ketchman, who gave him his first electric guitar. Hallyday gave his first professional concert in 1960, under the name Johnny, and put out his first album a year later. He quickly became a favorite of young people during the golden years of French pop music. His stardom largely ended at the French-speaking world, yet in France itself, he was an institution. He was the country's top rock 'n' roll star through more than five decades and eight presidents, and it was no exaggeration when Macron wrote "the whole country is in mourning."

never forget france had a very major role in our independence from england....and america also helped her back in the day....when men were men and women loved them...not so much nowadays..but wth?...there are still a few of us around (who love good women)

Hallyday may not have been as well known in the US, but he was a massive worldwide star, selling more than 100-million albums. He also starred in one of Hong Kong's best revenge thrillers, the 2009 film "Vengeance" - https://johnrieber.com/2017/12/06/rip-johnny-hallyday-the-french-elvis-was-iconic-singer-and-vengeance-star/